From Monica Wright To Michonne: On-Screen Black Women Characters Who Gave Us Fitness Goals

You ever watched a movie or TV show and at the end, walked away feeling like you needed to hit the gym ASAP? Some of the strongest heroines in our favorite films and shows literally looked the strongest when we watched them in these projects, and we left our viewing experience inspired to do a few more squats, some longer planks, and additional dumbbell rows to turn our arms into weapons of mass destruction. Or at least just cut like Angela Basset’s in just about every movie…

Check out 12 of our favorite characters who gave us some serious fitness goals.

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Sanaa Lathan in Love and Basketball

From her arms to her back, you could tell that Lathan had to not only learn how to ball, but also get in her best shape to play Monica Wright.

Hard to believe Angela Bassett got $50,000 for What's Love Got To Do With It (Laurence Fishburne was paid 2x's as much) pic.twitter.com/zN20mb62OP

Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got to Do With It

Not only did we memorize lines from this classic film, but we also first became obsessed with Angela Bassett’s arms after her star-making turn as Tina Turner in the acclaimed biopic.

Taraji P. Henson in Empire

Cookie Lyon was not kidding when she let us know, “This is an a–.” Henson also had to let everyone know her backside was real after people were so surprised at the wealth of junk she had in her trunk.

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Jada Pinkett Smith in Gotham

Jada was definitely about business in her portrayal of no-nonsense nightclub owner Fish Mooney on Fox’s Gotham. She also was about those push-ups or whatever other arm exercises it took to get her ripped and ready for Gotham.

Tisha Campbell-Martin in Martin

She may have been cracked on a lot because of the size of her head, but Gina Waters missed no time in the gym. That was clear in the classic “Fat Like Dat” episode.

watching black panther was an inspiration for me, keep a lookout because i want to recreate this certain dress nakia wore!! pic.twitter.com/HZCXUr40yd

Lupita Nyong’o in Black Panther

All of the women were strong and beautiful in Black Panther, but most were also covered up. Nyong’o, who played an independent spy named Nakia, got to show off her incredible shoulders and deltoids in that amazing casino fight scene.

Zoe Saldana in Colombiana

While lean and long, Zoe Saldana’s portrayal of assassin Cataleya still packed a lot of strength. She displayed that in many a fight scene, including while rocking a full scuba suit and letting her arms shine in shots like the one above.